Ashton to personally prosecute man charged with killing motorist while shooting at police

Konrad Schafer, from left, and David Damus, Victoria Rios and… (Osceola County Sheriff's…)

July 19, 2013|By Amy Pavuk, Orlando Sentinel

State Attorney Jeff Ashton is going to personally prosecute the case against an Orlando man accused of killing a motorist after firing shots at police during a high-speed chase earlier this month.

Orlando police tried to stop Gangapersad Ramroop, a career criminal with a history of car thefts and burglaries, on July 4 for a traffic infraction.

Ramroop did not stop his Honda, and police did not pursue him because of the agency's policy that allows chases only for violent offenses.

Several minutes later, police spotted the Honda and Ramroop again refused to stop. Soon after, another officer spotted the Honda near Pine Hills and attempted a third traffic stop.

As the officer tried to get his patrol car behind the Honda, Ramroop shot at the officer and sped away, authorities have reported.

Ramroop drove on Powers Drive and through a red light at West Colonial Drive, where he crashed into a Mazda SUV driven by 25-year-old Robert Hunter.

The impact pushed the Mazda into a utility pole and the vehicle spun, throwing Hunter out of the vehicle. Hunter, who was ejected onto the pavement, died. A passenger in his vehicle was seriously injured.

While the crash was unfolding, a bicyclist jumped off his bike to avoid getting struck by the vehicles. The Mazda ended up crushing the bicycle.

Ramroop was arrested on multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder of a law-enforcement officer with a firearm.

This is the second case in recent days that Ashton has said he will prosecute personally. His office confirmed this week he will prosecute four people in a series of Osceola County shootings, two of them fatal.

During Ashton's election campaign last year, he criticized his former boss State Attorney Lawson Lamar for not personally prosecuting cases.